'War,' 'Charlie' Added to Q4 Slate

The fourth-quarter home entertainment landscape is all but complete with the announcements that DreamWorks Home Entertainment will unleash the $232.6 million box office hit War of the Worlds Nov. 22 (prebook Oct. 4), while Warner Home Video will release the $201.4 million grosser Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Nov. 8 (prebook Sept. 27).

The news comes on the heels of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment slotting the $152.8 million summer hit Fantastic Four for Dec. 6 (prebook Oct. 26).

All three will be available on DVD and VHS; Fantastic Four also will be issued on Universal Media Disc (UMD) for Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP).

The three films — the year's second, fourth and tenth highest-grossing theatrical releases, respectively — each arrive on disc with a bevy of bonus materials.

A two-disc limited edition of War includes a documentary on H.G. Wells, who wrote the book upon which the film was based; a chat with director Steven Spielberg and star Tom Cruise about their experiences; an interview with Gene Berry and Ann Robinson, two of the stars from the 1953 adaptation; several production diaries and other behind-the-scenes extras. A $29.99 single-disc edition also will be available.

A single-disc $28.98 version of Charlie includes two features centered around the diminutive Oompa-Loompa characters: A “Dance Machine” game and a documentary that looks into the process used to turn actor Deep Roy into thousands of the strange singing and dancing creatures. A two-disc, $30.97 deluxe edition also includes a biography of author Roald Dahl, three more games for kids and five making-of featurettes.

The $29.98 Fantastic Four DVD includes a making-of documentary, exclusive footage of the cast's promotional tour, three deleted scenes, two new music videos and a preview of the upcoming theatrical release X-Men 3.

War, co-produced with Paramount, will share the pre-Thanksgiving Tuesday with Warner's The Polar Express.

Most of the year's other top theatrical grossers have already been slotted for fourth-quarter dates.

Of 2005's top 10 films, only No. 5 Wedding Crashers has not yet been announced for home video.